An After-Thought: Why Teaching?

CEBU, Philippines - Age doesn’t matter in pursuing higher education. When the Chair of the Panel of Examiners declared I passed the oral examination of my dissertation, I became misty-eyed. I listened to the Dean’s declaration in disbelief, that I could still make it. At that moment, I thought of my children whose conviction and confidence in my capabilities motivated in my educational pursuits. I told myself I would dedicate the fruit of my labor to them as a gift for their achievements in school and for having successful careers.

I looked back at how I became an educator. Since I was in the grades, I really dreamed of becoming a teacher. That dream became intensified by one unforgettable painful experience. I was about to finish Grade 1 as the first placer of the class when I overheard one teacher who exclaimed, “Nganong siya man nga dili man na anak og maestro?” That unsavory remark inculcated in my innocent mind the value of education, the importance of a teacher. So, I told myself determinedly, “Magmaestra gyud ko.”

I reminisced why I chose education specializing in English. My high school mentors encouraged me to pursue a course in secondary education. Two of them who were my teachers in English and in Filipino. They inspired me to specialize in the same languages. Later, I realized that idolizing someone for her pedagogic skills and strongly influenced my future.

After college, I felt it’s my fate to be a teacher. I have no regrets for choosing the noblest of all professions. Why the noblest? First, many believe that teaching molds the minds of the young and the ignorant. It brings you back to your prep school or kindergarten days when your teacher sweated it out in guiding your hand as you made your first encounter with the pencil, how to handle it properly, then drawing lines, circles, and other figures. Much more exhausting was the teaching of numbers and reading to beginners. More importantly, the teacher was a role model to the learners, molding their character by motivating them to imbibe the values of politeness, courtesy, honestly, cooperation, respect, and other distinct values of the Filipino.

Second, a teacher plays multi-roles rolled into one, not only in words but in deeds – second parent, adviser, counselor, actor, protector, innovator, a friend, never an enemy, and a confidant; that is why, a teacher must be a good listener, an initiator to do things right. Likewise, he is a motivator who, despite ripe age, inspires others to give his best in teaching and never lives to keep abreast and continue to climb up the topmost rung of education.

Third, the field of teaching often gives the teacher the opportunity to grow mentally, socially, and even emotionally, regardless of age and experience. His daily encounter with his students can help broaden his horizon. Every moment of interaction becomes a healthy, enriching experience for both of them. He can laugh with them, but sometimes he will cry with them in a sharing activity. There are times when he would flare up when a student is mischievous; however, the actor in him as well as his commitment would steer him to easily shift his mood to its cooling point.

Many high school graduates are not attracted to teaching because they observe it is quite stressful – preparing lesson plans, instructional materials, and other activities. This may be undeniable, but nothing is unattainable as long as we know how to handle things at the right time. It’s just a matter of time management. Besides, the pains and sacrifices, particulary the midnight candles burnt almost every night could be compensated by the achievements of students; in fact, the attainment of the day’s lesson objectives is indubitably priceless.

If the American poet, Robert Frost, were to rise again from his grave to make me choose between the road not taken and the road I have already taken, I would bluntly answer Frost that I would still choose the same road directing me toward the teaching profession. I would tell him that there’s no other very fulfilling moment than the interactive experiences I encountered in the classroom. Each classroom is unique and offers something new for me to become a better mentor.

God is so good for making me love this profession for almost 40 years, and I swear I will never stop loving this profession even after my retirement. He created me to be a teacher.